American Airlines Donates Jet To School
Moving Plane From Airport To Aviation School Poses Challenge
POSTED: Wednesday, April 21, 2010
UPDATED: 6:25 pm EDT April 21, 2010
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MIAMI -- A major planning project is under way as workers try to figure out how to move a donated jetliner from Miami International Airport to an aviation school across the highway.The gleaming MD-82 jet was one of American Airlines' very first jets. The 25-year-old, 140-passenger plane was set to retire to the desert, but instead, American is donating it to the George T. Baker Aviation School.“We need future aircraft mechanics and what better way to insure that we have the next generation of aircraft mechanics than give them a tool to work with?" said Russ Newill, American Airlines' director of maintenance.The plane is not just any tool. It is a completely intact $6 million twin-engine jet. Currently, the students at the school work on smaller planes and old engines, but they have nothing like this."Not only are my students getting to work on a commercial aircraft, it has been upgraded to be considered a modern aircraft -- something that literally could be up and running in eight hours and flying customers," said George T. Baker Aviation School Principal Sean Gallagan.In the past, the jet has flown hundreds of thousands of passengers over millions of miles, but the last mile could be the toughest. In order to get the plane from Miami International Airport across Lejeune Road, there might be some logistical challenges."We will probably use a crane to lift it across the road," Newill said.First of all, workers need to remove the wing tips from the plane so they have enough clearance to get past some street lights and trees. Also, both jet engines are going to have to be removed for weight and balance so they can get it onto a crane.American thinks taking the jet from the clouds to the classroom will help the future of aviation, and the students at the Miami-Dade public school agree.“It gives us an opportunity, a chance to work on a live aircraft and become familiar with the most up-to-current technology that’s flying and that’s available right now," said student Danny Escobar.The plane is tentatively set to be moved in the wee hours of May 18.
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